Motivation

Computer architecture is the science and art of selecting and interconnecting hardware components to create a computer that meets functional, performance and cost goals. This course qualitatively and quantitatively examines computer design tradeoffs. We will learn, for example, how uniprocessors execute many instructions concurrently and why state-of-the-art memory systems are nearly as complex as processors.

Examining tradeoffs requires that you already know how to design a correct computer, as is taught is the important prerequisite CS/ECE 552. CS 537 is also a prerequisite, but it is less important, and may be taken concurrently or adequately covered with external reading.

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